She Laughs Without Fear
  • Blog
  • Series
  • Links
  • About
  • Connect

The Opposite of Fear

11/21/2014

0 Comments

 
On this fearless Friday, I thought I would talk about the elusive opposite of fear. I say "elusive" because the opposite of fear is hard to define. 

If you look up the word "fear" at Thesaurus.com, you'll find synonyms, but you'll also find antonyms. Some of the antonyms (or opposites) of fear include: assurance, calmness, cheer, confidence, contentment, ease, encouragement, faith, joy, and love. 

But in the midst of a fearful situation, how does one put off fear and put on one of these things? When you're fearful, how does that fear exchange for assurance? How can that fear become calmness? How can it become confidence or contentment or joy or love?

And the answer is turning to the only one that gives true assurance, calmness, confidence, contentment, encouragement, joy, and love: God. 

The opposite of fear (or rather fears of life such as anxieties, worries, or just plain being afraid) is fearing and loving the Lord. 
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4: 16-18
God's perfect love drives out fear. Fearing and love the Lord brings a peace and assurance and confidence that puts fear to death. 

I felt this confidence and assurance while walking to get my car last night. Usually I take a well lit way to get my car, but for some reason I was prompted to take the way with less light, which would be a lot quicker. 

As I started walking this way, the sun had already set over the horizon, but a slice of light still remained, illuminating the way. Even though this way had less light, the Lord still provided light to guide me. Whether it was the street light, my iPhone's light, or even the sliver of light on the horizon. The darkness did not overcome the light. 

My fears can feel like darkness in my life, but the Lord always overcomes the darkness. The sun always rises. Shadows are always illuminated. In fact, shadows don't exist without light. 

God calmed my own fears of the darkness while walking to get my car (to go see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay premiere I might add, more on this movie later). While I probably won't opt to take that route most of the time at night in the future, the Lord still calmed my fears. And showed me that I have full assurance and confidence through trusting him. 

Picture
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    July 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

    Copyright © 2014 - 2023
    She Laughs Without Fear 
© COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Blog
  • Series
  • Links
  • About
  • Connect